Celosia plant named &#39;BKCELAPP&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Celosia  plant named ‘BKCELAPP’, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; moderately freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; red purple-colored flowers arranged on conical compound spikes; and good interiorscape and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Celosia plumosa.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKCELAPP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Celosia plant,botanically known as Celosia plumosa and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘BKCELAPP’.

The new Celosia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new Celosia plants that have uniqueand attractive flowers, long flowering period and good interiorscape andgarden performance.

The new Celosia plant originated from a cross-pollination in June, 2011in Maasdijk, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Celosiaplumosa identified as code number 1401400, not patented, as the female,or seed, parent with Celosia plumosa ‘BKCELMG’, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 23,045, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Celosia plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantfrom within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledenvironment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in April, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Celosia plant by cuttings in acontrolled environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since April, 2013hasshown that the unique features of this new Celosia plant are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Celosia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BKCELAPP’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BKCELAPP’ as a new and distinct Celosia plant:

1. Broadly upright plant habit.

2. Freely branching habit.

3. Freely flowering habit.

4. Red purple-colored flowers arranged on conical compound spikes.

5. Good interiorscape and garden performance.

Plants of the new Celosia differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Celosia are shorter than plants of the femaleparent selection.

2. Leaves of plants of the new Celosia are lighter green in color thanleaves of plants of the female parent selection.

3. Plants of the new Celosia and the female parent selection differ inflower color as plants of the female parent selection havepurple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Celosia differ from plants of the male parent,‘BKCELMG’, in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Celosia are shorter than plants of ‘BKCELMG’.

2. Leaves of plants of the new Celosia have lighter green-colored leavesthan plants of ‘BKCELMG’.

3. Plants of the new Celosia and ‘BKCELMG’ differ in flower color asplants of ‘BKCELMG’ have more magenta-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Celosia can be compared to plants of Celosia plumosa‘Kelos Purple’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of thenew Celosia differ primarily from ‘Kelos Purple’ in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Leaves of plants of the new Celosia are lighter green in color thanleaves of plants of ‘Kelos Purple’.

2. Plants of the new Celosia flower earlier than plants of ‘KelosPurple’.

3. Plants of the new Celosia and ‘Kelos Purple’ differ in flower coloras plants of ‘Kelos Purple’ have purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Celosia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Celosia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘BKCELFLM’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typicalinflorescences and the upper and lower surfaces of leaves of ‘BKCELFLM’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in 12-cm containers during the springin a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and undercommercial cultural practices typical of Celosia production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 17° C. to18° C. and night temperatures ranged from about 16° C. to 17° C. Plantswere pinched one time and were ten weeks old when the photographs anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Celosia plumosa ‘BKCELFLM’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Celosia            plumosa identified as code number 1401400, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Celosia plumosa ‘BKCELMG’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,045.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at            temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 19 days at            temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days            at temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 23 days            at temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous annual typically            grown as a potted plant; broadly upright plant habit;            broadly obovate in overall shape; freely branching habit            with about five lateral branches developing per plant;            moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 24.9            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 29.3            cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 30.5 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 19.3 cm. Diameter: About            6 mm. Internode length: About 1.7 cm. Strength: Moderately            strong. Aspect: About 32.5° from vertical. Texture and            luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color,            developing: Close to 182B. Color, developed: Close to 61B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 9.3 cm.        -   Width.—About 5.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly            rugose, glabrous; slightly glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 148A; towards the            apex, tinged with close to N186C; venation, close to 187D.            Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 148B;            venation, close to 187C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to            187D. Color, lower surface: Close to 184B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and arrangement.—Single rotate flowers arranged            in conical terminal compound spikes; flowers face upright to            outwardly.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 6,000            flowers developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—Not detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 70            days after planting; flowering continuous from spring into            the autumn in The Netherlands.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences of the new Celosia            have good longevity and plants maintain good substance for            about 40 days; flowers persistent.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 5.9 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4.7 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 6 mm.        -   Flower height.—About 6 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Shape: Lanceolate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            glossy. Color: Close to N66B.        -   Petals.—None observed.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically eight per flower            arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 6 mm. Width:            About 1.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex; Narrowly acute. Base:            Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, inner and outer            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: When opening,            inner and outer surfaces: Close to N66C. Fully opened, inner            and outer surfaces: Close to N66C; towards the base, close            to 68D; venation, close to N66C; color becoming closer to            N66C to N66D with development.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.5 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Angle: Upright to about 75° from vertical. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly glossy. Color: Close to 186B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm. Angle:            About 80° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.            Color: Close to 186B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Filament length: About 2.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 68B            to 68C. Anther size: About 0.3 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape:            Narrowly oblong. Anther color: Close to 64A. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 156D. Pistils: Quantity per            flower: One. Length: About 4 mm. Stigma diameter: About            1 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped, three-parted. Stigma color:            Close to 61A. Style length: About 3.5 mm. Style color: Close            to 61B. Ovary color: Close to 65D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Celosia.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Celosia have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Celosia    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Celosia have been observed to    have good garden performance and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness    Zones 9 to 12.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Celosia plant named ‘BKCELAPP’ asillustrated and described.